Nissan NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow Officially Official

Legal Battles Behind, New York City’s Taxi Now Battles Ridesharing

In a drawn-out multiyear drama, Nissan can finally officially say it has the undisputed title of “Taxi of Tomorrow” for New York City. Per a court order, the NV200 received the official designation on Monday, September 1. Everyone from disability advocates to environmentalists had their objections to the vehicle, but with exceptions made for disabled-accessible and hybrid taxis, the NV200 will ultimately comprise the majority of the New York City taxi fleet, as the aging Ford Crown Victorias are replaced at the rate of 2,500 to 3,000 a year. The city’s overall taxi fleet numbers approximately 13,000 vehicles, of which an estimated 750 are currently the NV200, according to the New York Times.

Reaction to the NV200 has been mixed. Many riders like the more generous rear legroom, USB power ports, and panoramic transparent roof. However, some have complained about the lack of headroom and difficult ingress and egress for senior citizens.

Drivers say the NV200 is more comfortable in long stints behind the wheel, thanks to Nissan’s “zero gravity” seats. However, some drivers have complained of excessive rear tire wear on wheelchair accessible models, which carry more weight over the rear axle.

Unlike the days of the Checker Marathon and Crown Victoria, the NV200 faces a new competitor in the form of ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft. The city tried unsuccessfully in July to cap the number of Uber operators in the city. The ridesharing services are poaching both drivers and passengers from the traditional taxi services for their combination of convenience, flexible working hours, and flexible pricing.